Commentary: Innovation Comes from the Top – and yet it Doesn’t

Deborah Lockridge

As part of an audience exercise at HDT's inaugural Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange event last month, table groups brainstormed reasons that people don't think, why they don't innovate. A common theme was that people are not expected to, not challenged to — and when they do come up with an idea, they aren't listened to. So why bother?

“You can't transform an organization until you transform its thinking,” said keynote speaker Tim Richardson. His message was that leaders need to teach people how to think, give them some freedom to do so, and thank them when they do. If someone comes up with an idea and it's ignored, dismissed, or laughed at, what's going to happen the next time they have an idea — maybe one that might have been a game-changer? Doubtful they're going to try again.

Also at HDTX, as part of the Truck Fleet Innovator panel discussion, Randy Obermeyer, terminal manager for Batesville Logistics, talked about how he not only uses Lean processes and tools to make his shop more efficient, but he also teaches his technicians how to use those tools to come up with waste-cutting ideas of their own.

At U.S. Xpress, they're recruiting for management talent outside of the industry and putting them through a two-year program to learn the ropes (read more about the Xpress Elite program on page 88.) But not only are the future managers learning about how the various departments of the truckload carrier work, they also are bringing in best practices and ideas from other industries that can be applied in trucking. And U.S. Xpress is listening.

Yet one of the most overlooked sources for good ideas may be drivers.

At HDTX, Jeff Sass, Navistar's senior vice president of North America truck sales and marketing, shared some stories about how the ...Read the rest of this story

The Latest Fuel-Sipping Engines

Fleets expecting better fuel economy and reliability have a lot to look forward to if the engine makers' claims are accurate. Photo: Jim Park

There's a new crop of engines on the street now that's cleaner, more fuel efficient and hopefully more reliable than previous models. Most North American heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturers rolled out substantially revamped engines last year to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's GHG17 emissions regulations. Those rules were the final step for diesel engines in Phase 1 of the EPA's grand CO2 reduction plan. Engine makers now have a few years to figure how to meet the next, more restrictive round of fuel efficiency improvements, which come into force for model-year 2021 engines.

According to DieselNet, an independent online information service covering technical and business information on diesel engines, model-year 2017 heavy-duty diesels have CO2 emissions limits of 460 grams/bhp-hr, which translates into a fuel consumption limit of 4.52 gallons/100 bhp-hr. While that won't mean much to most of us, it forces truck makers to up their game by 7% to 20% compared to MY 2010 trucks ­— with engines contributing a sizable chunk of those reductions. And, by popular demand, engine makers had to step up the reliability quotient, too.

To meet those goals, engine makers deployed combinations of more advanced electronic controls and mechanical changes to their engine, which in several instances included new injection systems, new piston designs, variable speed accessory drives, low-friction components, lighter lubes, higher compression ratios and new aftertreatment systems. Benefits to the truck owner include in some instances lighter engines, more torque at lower rpm, less horsepower at higher rpm, better drivability and of course reduced fuel consumption.

It's still a bit early to make a pronouncement on the reliability question, but each of the engine makers' reps we spoke with emphasized ...Read the rest of this story

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Southern California Mayors Aim for Zero Emissions at Ports

(Left) Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti signed a joint declaration to set goals for the transition to zero emissions at Southern California ports. Photo: Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti

The mayors of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, are aiming for zero emissions at the ports or Los Angeles and Long Beach by 2035 as part of their commitment to adopting the Paris Climate Agreement goals in their cities.

Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles and Mayor Robert Garcia of Long Beach signed a joint declaration to set goals for the twin ports to make the transition to zero emissions in their Clean Air Action Plan. The CAAP will include new investments in clean technology, expanding emissions reductions, and launching a zero-emissions drayage truck pilot in the next few years.

“Our ports are the engines that power our economy — they must also be the forces that drive our region toward a greener, more sustainable future,” said Garcetti. “I am proud to stand with my fellow Climate Mayor Robert Garcia today, as we renew our commitment to cleaning our air, and moving boldly toward our goal of zero emissions goods movement at the ports.”

A spokesman for the Harbor Trucking Association, an advocacy group of intermodal carriers in California, is supportive of clean air technology but told HDT the group is skeptical that the goals stated by the two mayors were actually achievable.

“We're not against clean technology or clean air, but you need to be careful in the goals you set,” said Weston LaBar, the executive director of the HTA. “You can't set hard goals and milestones to get to zero emissions when the technology does not really exist today.”

“As of right now, what they're asking for doesn't exist."

The two mayors also launched the Green Ports Collaborative, a program aimed ...Read the rest of this story

Pirelli Names Vitale to Head North American Commercial Tire Brand

Alex Vitale has been named the North American CEO of TP Commercial Solutions, the business unit in charge of marketing and distributing Pirelli brand commercial truck tires in the U.S. and Canada.

Vitale has more than 20 years of experience in the global tire industry. He will lead the company's efforts and expansion in the commercial truck and fleet markets in North America. Vitale is succeeding Clif Armstrong in the position.

“I look forward to continue driving the expansion of Pirelli branded truck, bus, agro, and OTR business in North America,” Vitale said. “It's an exciting time for the company and we will build on our product launches this year through further product development and offerings for the market.”

Born in Italy and raised in the U.S., Vitale has worked with companies in the U.S., Canada, Europe and emerging markets like the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Russia. Prior to his new position, Vitale was the general manager for Agro and OTR Global for Pirelli Tires. In the past, he worked for Kal Tire as the vice president of international sales and marketing and spent nine years at Goodyear as the business unit manager for EMEA and India.

TP Commercial Solutions is part of the Prometeon Tyre Group, the former Pirelli industrial business unit that supplies commercial truck tires and fleet solutions to the global market.

Related: Pirelli Bringing Truck Tires to North America

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